Greenway application ‘not to the standard required’

Seamus Enright

There are calls to examine the process by which Leitrim, with the support of Cavan and Sligo County Councils, submitted applications for funding to develop a scenic Greenway through the region.

Promoting sustainable cross-border mobility in the region by utilising sections of the disused Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway (SLNCR) route, the matter was raised at the recent monthly meeting of local elected members in Cavan.
Fianna Fáil's John Paul Feeley queried why the project had failed to garner support, specifically when there had been a lot of “goodwill” locally to see the project brought to fruition.
Led by Leitrim County Council (LCC), with Cavan County Council (CCC) providing non-financial support, there was widespread disappointment when applications under the National Cycle Network (NCN) and INTERREG Programme both returned unsuccessful.
Supporting having part of the route developed, linking the west Cavan village of Blacklion to that of Glenfarne, Cllr Feeley’s frustrations were compounded further still in his acceptance that CCC had “done a great deal of work to date” on the matter.
But it was fellow party member Sean Smith who suggested that the applications had “not been up to the standard required”, and that following the submission of the second application to INTERREG, those involved were told “it was not as good as the first.
“We should explore why it was not up to the standard required,” suggested Cllr Smith.
He stated too the impression was given that the Councils were “hitting targets”.
The motion was supported by Fine Gael's Peter McVitty who said: “There must be a problem somewhere.”
Responding to members' concerns, Director of Services Eoin Doyle noted with NCN application that there has been a significant over-subscription for funding involving Greenway projects.
Council CEO Tommy Ryan said the figures in the second application under the 'Smarter Travel' banner “didn't stack up against” other applications under the same initiative.
But he said with regard to Brexit, that with funding promised, there could be ample opportunity to revive the application in the future, saying: “We will have our applications ready.”